AMYGDALA AMARA 2iy 



and surrounds a single stone (putamen), which is very hard, smooth or 

 ridged, and incloses a white, bitter weed. 



CONSTITUENTS. Sugar 12 to 25 per cent., pectin, malic acid, and salts. The 

 seeds contain fixed oil, amygdalin, and emulsin. 



Preparation of Amygdalin. Obtained by solvent action of boiling alcohol upon 

 the "oil cake," evaporating off alcohol, fermenting residue by yeast, and precipi- 

 tating amygdalin and gum. Boiling alcohol takes up the principle which is depos- 

 ited on cooling. 



ACTION AND USES. Laxative and nutrient, as an article of food or in laxative 

 confections. Confectio Sennae (U.S. P. VIII). Dose: i to 3 dr. (4 to 

 12 Gm.). 



206. PERSICA. PEACH LEAVES. From Pru'nus per'sica Linne\ Mild sedative, 

 generally administered in infusion. Dose: 15 to 30 gr. (i to 2 Gm.). 



207. MALUS. APPLE TREE. The bark of Pyr'us ma'lus Linne\ Tonic and 

 febrifuge. Dose of fluidextract : 15 to 60 njj (i to 4 mils). 



Succus POMARUM, N.F. The freshly expressed juice of sound, ripe, sour apples, of 

 cultivated varieties. 



208. CYDONIUM. QUINCE SEED. Pyr'us cydo'nia Linn6. Habitat: Western 

 Asia; cultivated. About 6 mm. (% in.) long, ovate, somewhat triangularly 

 compressed, with the hilum near the pointed end; testa dark brown, covered 

 with a thin, mucilaginous membrane or epithelium, causing the seeds to ad- 

 here in masses. The two cotyledons are thick and oily, veined, with a short 

 conical radicle. Taste and odor of the embryo like bitter almonds, of the 

 unbroken seed mucilaginous and insipid. The testa contains a large amount 

 of mucilage; the embryo, fixed oil. A decoction is often used as a demulcent, 

 and as an addition to eye-lotions. 



209. AMYGDALA AMARA. BITTER ALMOND (U.S.P. VIII) 



BITTER ALMOND 

 The ripe seed of Pru'nus Amyg'dalus, var. Amara, De Candolle. 



This is an oblong-ovate flattened seed with marked numerous longi- 

 tudinal lines. Inodorous, bitter. Constituents: Fixed oil, 45 per cent, and 

 amygdalin a crystalline glycoside, which by the action of emulsin, a ferment 

 existing in the seed in the presence of water, splits up into glucose, HCN and 

 benzaldehyde. Used as a sedative. From the seed is extracted the fixed 

 oil by expression, and, from the residue, the volatile oil by distillation. 



209 a. OLEUM AMYGDALA AMAIUE, U.S. OIL OF BITTER ALMOND. 

 A pale yellowish volatile oil obtained by macerating in water the 

 residue left from bitter almonds after the fixed oil has been expressed, 

 and distilling. It has a bitter, acrid taste, and a strong odor of hydro- 

 cyanic acid. It consists chiefly of benzoic aldehyde, to the oxidation 

 of which is due the sediment, benzoic acid, thrown down on long 

 exposure to air. The source from which it is derived in every case 

 to be stated on the label. It should yield when assayed by the 

 U.S.P. process not less than 85 per cent, of benzaldehyde and not 

 less than 2 per cent, nor more than 4 per cent, of HCN. This oil 

 is intended for medicinal use and not for flavoring foods. Sedative. 

 Dose: ^ to i nj} (0.0164 to 0.0650 mil), in emulsion. 



